The Gulf of California is part of the Pacific Ocean. It is located in northwestern Mexico and is bounded by the Baja California peninsula and the states of Sonora and Sinaloa. Its length is 1126 km, and its width varies from 48 to 241 km. The area of the bay is about 177,000 sq. km. There are about 900 islands in its water area, including Angel de la Guarda and Tiburon, the largest in Mexico. From the north, the Colorado River flows into the Gulf of California, and along the banks there are several port cities of medium value.
History
The Gulf of California began to form about 130 million years ago in the Mesozoic era, when, as a result of a tectonic fault, the land mass, which eventually became the peninsula of Baja California, began to separate from the mainland. Approximately 4.5 million years ago, this water area was finally formed, but since then the peninsula has shifted another 650 km. It is assumed that, moving at a speed of 4 to 6 cm per year, in a few million years it will completely break away from the continent, and the bay will become a strait.
In 1533The peninsula and the bay were accidentally discovered by the conqueror of Mexico, Hernan Cortez, after whom in 1539 the California water area received its second name - the Sea of Cortez. The conquistadors believed that the mythical Strait of Anian was located on its northern part, connecting the Pacific Ocean with the Atlantic.
The navigator Melchior Diaz explored the northern coast in 1540 and discovered the mouth of the Colorado, but misconceptions about the strait persisted in geographical writings until the 17th century. Cortes brought back some pearls from his trip, which were later mined on an industrial scale, until an unknown disease killed the pearl mussels in 1936-1940.
On the coast of the bay there were bases of English, French and Dutch pirates, which disappeared after the final conquest of Baja California by the Spaniards in 1697. The economic development of the region began after the foundation in 1768 of the Franciscan missions on the Pacific coast. In 1821, the bay became part of the independent state of Mexico (it has been displayed on the world map since that time), and at the end of the Mexican-American war of 1846-1848, the US government agreed to leave the peninsula and a narrow strip of land on the northern coast behind this country bay, thanks to which the Sea of Cortez remains completely Mexican. Today, 8 million people live on its banks.
Climate
The climate of the bay is subtropical, with significant seasonal fluctuations. In summer, the air temperature reaches 30 ° C, in winter in the north it drops to an average of9°C, but there are also frosts. The average water temperature is 24°C (up to 30°C in summer and up to 16°C in winter). In the northern part of the bay, light rains occur from October to May, while tropical storms occur in the south in summer.
Depth
The average depth is more than a kilometer, but the bottom of the bay is cut by deep trenches, reaching 3400 meters. In the northern part of the water area, especially in the area of the Colorado Estuary, nine-meter tides are observed, one of the highest on the planet.
Fauna
The Gulf of California has an exceptional diversity of fauna, which is why this area, which is a natural laboratory for the study of marine life, received the name "World Aquarium" from Jacques-Yves Cousteau. About 40% of all species of marine mammals of the planet and a third of the representatives of the cetacean family were found here. It is also the only place in the world with underwater sand waterfalls.
In total, there are 36 species of marine mammals, 31 cetaceans, five of the seven species of sea turtles, more than 800 fish, of which 90 are endemic, 210 are birds, and more than 6,000 invertebrates in the bay.
Flora has 695 species of plants, of which 28 are endemic. Every winter, gray whales migrate in the bay. In addition to them, migratory species include humpback whales and sperm whales. And sometimes giant blue whales swim in the waters of the bay. The most famous and at the same time poorly studied endemic is the California porpoise, or vaquita, the smallest among thisfamily, the length of which does not exceed one and a half meters. Discovered in 1958, this species is critically endangered.
Meaning of the bay
The Gulf of California is of commercial importance. It is very large, since 77% of Mexico's fishing is in the Pacific Ocean and 80% of it is in the Sea of Cortez. Recently, general adverse environmental changes have negatively affected fisheries, in particular the reduction in the flow of the Colorado River, whose waters are diverted for irrigation. Other problems are over-fishing, making it difficult for populations to recover, and bottom trawling.
Islands
Before talking about the islands, you need to remember which ocean the Gulf of California belongs to. Of course, to the Pacific. The islands, most of which are rocks, are nesting sites for a large number of birds and an important corridor for migratory species, which number up to 50%. There are no endemic representatives among birds.
The climate of the islands is arid, similar to the Sonoran Desert. Among the island flora in the area of \u200b\u200bsuch an area as the Gulf of California (it is easy to find on the map), cacti and other succulents predominate. There are swamps on some islands, and low mangrove forests stretch along the east coast of Tiburon. The fauna of these land areas is represented mainly by reptiles, of which there are 115 species, that is, approximately 10%herpetological diversity of Mexico. The largest land mammals are coyotes and small black-tailed deer.
July 15, 2005 part of the bay and islands (5% of the territory) was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, as the biological diversity of the region is comparable to the Galapagos Islands and the Great Barrier Reef. There are nine protected areas in total, of which 25% are islands and 75% are offshore. The political situation in the country and opposition to fishing campaigns do not allow taking a larger territory under protection.
Tourism
The Gulf of California is a popular international tourist area with a booming industry. It annually attracts about two million people who are offered beaches, diving in waters known for their transparency. Fishing, windsurfing, kayaking, archaeological, cycling, hiking and horseback tours, whale watching, visiting numerous untouched by civilization corners are available. There are other types of eco-tourism.
Mexico is well visible on the world map, and the bay is also easy to find. In order to get to this place, you can make a long or short path, but you definitely need to know that the emotions after visiting will remain unforgettable.
